Suzuki 2008 Reno User Manual
Page 44
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85Z14-03E
or because of what the repair costs were.
For frontal air bags, inflation is determined
by the angle of the impact and how quickly
the vehicle slows down in frontal and near-
frontal impacts. For side impact air bags,
inflation is determined by the location and
severity of the impact.
What Makes an Air Bag Inflate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the air
bag sensing system detects that the vehi-
cle is in a crash. For both frontal and side
impact air bags, the sensing system trig-
gers a release of gas from the inflator,
which inflates the air bag. The inflator, the
air bag and related hardware are all part of
the air bag modules. Frontal air bag mod-
ules are located inside the steering wheel
and instrument panel. Side impact air bag
modules are located in the side of the seat-
back closest to the door.
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near fron-
tal collisions, even belted occupants can
contact the steering wheel or the instru-
ment panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can con-
tact the inside of the vehicle.
The air bag supplements the protection
provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute
the force of the impact more evenly over
the occupant’s upper body, stopping the
occupant more gradually. But the frontal air
bags would not help you in many types of
collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts,
and many side impacts, primarily because
an occupant’s motion is not toward the air
bag. Side impact air bags would not help
you in many types of collisions, including
frontal or near frontal collisions, rollovers,
and rear impacts, primarily because an
occupant’s motion is not toward those air
bags. Air bags should never be regarded
as anything more than a supplement to
safety belts, and then only in moderate to
severe frontal or near-frontal collisions for
the driver’s and right front passenger’s
frontal air bags, and only in moderate to
severe side collisions for vehicles with side
impact air bags.
What Will You See After an Air Bag
Inflates?
After the air bag inflates, it quickly deflates,
so quickly that some people may not even
realize the air bag inflated. Some compo-
nents of the air bag module will be hot for a
short time. These components include the
steering wheel hub for the driver’s frontal
air bag, the instrument panel for the right
front passenger’s frontal bag and the side
of the seatback closest to the front door for
the side impact air bag. The parts of the
bag that come into contact with you may
be warm, but not too hot to touch. There
will be some smoke and dust coming from
the vents in the deflated air bags. Air bag
inflation doesn’t prevent the driver from
seeing or being able to steer the vehicle,
nor does it stop people from leaving the
vehicle.
In many crashes severe enough to inflate
an air bag, windshields are broken by vehi-
cle deformation. Additional windshield
breakage may also occur from the right
front passenger air bag.
• Air bags are designed to inflate only
once. After an air bag inflates, you’ll
need some new parts for your air bag
system. If you don’t get them, the air bag
system won’t be there to help protect
you in another crash. A new system will
include air bag modules and possibly
other parts. The service manual for your
vehicle covers the need to replace other
parts.
WARNING
When an air bag inflates, there is dust
in the air. This dust could cause
breathing problems for people with a
history of asthma or other breathing
trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the
vehicle should get out as soon as it is
safe to do so. If you have breathing
problems but can’t get out of the
vehicle after an air bag inflates, then
get fresh air by opening a window or
a door. If you experience breathing
problems following an air bag deploy-
ment, you should seek medical atten-
tion.
Supplemental Restraint System: